Three's Company

Simply put, every guy should have a three-piece suit this fall. We shot a whole lineup of them on Joseph Gordon-Levitt for our August fall preview issue, and if you look at that story you see how this really buttoned-up silhouette can look so young and cool. Not only is the three-piece suit a nod to Savile Row and traditional tailoring at its best, but it's one of the most versatile investments you can make. Remove the vest and you have a two-piece suit, take off the jacket and you have a natty pairing that's still equally work appropriate. It's like the Swiss Army knife of suiting.

Ports 1961

Simon Spurr

Ermenegildo Zegna

Checks and Balances

There is this enormous explosion of pattern on suits and sport coats for fall, really a resurrection of very traditional menswear fabrics that have been essentially written off as too old or geezer-y for young guys—until now. Windowpane and every checked plaid out there have come roaring back in a way that feels right again. Young brands like Gant Rugger and AMI are offer options in really modern proportions, while powerhouses like Ralph Lauren and Ermenegildo Zegna have updated their offerings by slimming down the cuts and doing away any extraneous bulk, even linings when necessary. It's the first time an entire generation of younger guys have been exposed to such classic patterns, and the coming together of the old and the new is what makes these feel so fresh.

Ermenegildo Zegna

Ermenegildo Zegna

Buckle-Up

The international symbol of menswear bloggers for some time now, the double monkstrap (or dub monks, as they call it) has now moved into the realm of everyman attainable, coming in at all price points in a plethora of modified styles from wingtip to cap-toe, single or double-strapped, pebble grain to suede. Originally the dressiest of shoes, the way to walk them this season is with flair and confidence: From punchy socks to a pair of jeans, the only wrong way to strap it up is unimaginatively.

Hermès

Mugler

Z Zegna

The Indigo Dress Shirt

Denim and chambray shirts have received their fair share of love in this magazine over the last few years, but what makes these indigo options new is that they're appropriate to wear in front of the big boss. The more formalized collars, in semi-spread or button-down, are perfect for pairing with a tie, and help amp up your Monday through Friday work wear style with an eye-catching pop.

Ermenegildo Zegna

Ermenegildo Zegna

Double Up

This is undoubtedly the season of the topcoat, something that was made very clear all the way through the Milan, Paris, and New York shows. The double-breasted silhouette isn't as commonly seen on the streets as much as the single-breasted models, but that doesn't mean it's not as versatile and essential a piece—maybe more so. Thanks to the military-influenced six-button closure and peak lapels, the silhouette packs an instant, elegant bunch when buttoned up, whether over a gray flannel suit or T-shirt and slim cargos. And always ignore the sales associate who says to size up when buying your topcoat. It should fit snugly, so you're consistently sharp whether showing up to brunch or a black-tie ball.

Salvatore Ferragamo

Ralph Lauren

**Cable Guy **

The cable knit every guy needs isn't a prepped out pastel, but one of these chunky, dare I say manly sweaters that take the textbook weave into more rugged territory. Think less of hanging on the quad and more about fishing off the coast of Ireland, and you get the idea. The thick knits look smart on their own, or layered under a great topcoat. Winter weekend wear at its best.

Gucci

Gucci

Gucci

Bomber Squad

There are a lot of jackets in the market that reference the bomber silhouette, but to be clear, we are endorsing the true bomber jacket, with all of the hallmarks that have made it such an iconic piece in the first place. We're talking ribbing at the cuffs and waist, a straight collar that could have mouton on it, and a fit that doesn't balloon around the torso. Designers at every price point are offering their take on the original, be it in lu leathers or slick nylon, that combine the style's military heritage with some Top Gun swagger. Equally smart over a shirt and tie combo as it is with your most beat-up T-shirt.

**Patrik Ervell **

Surface to Air

Get A Driver

The driving cap really had a renaissance of sorts on the runways for Fall 2012, rendered in every lofty fall fabric, from herringbone and Donegal tweeds at Dolce & Gabbana to checked wool at Junya Watanabe. It's a seven-day-a-week option, to be worn on your commute to work or with a hoodie running errands on the weekend. The cap shape looks great on every head out there, and that's why we're really advocating men give their snapbacks a break in the colder months ahead.

Trussardi 1911

**Woolrich Woolen Mills **

Pins and Needles

No longer just for bankers, pinstripes are making a comeback in fashionable menswear. The new pin is European in nature, appearing on both structured British and more relad Italian tailoring—double-breasted optional—while always maintaining its sophisticated, business-ready air. What separates this new breed from past incarnations though is a renewed focus on fit. Silhouettes have been streamlined, banishing the bulky late-'80s sacks that tarnished the pattern's reputation in the first place. As smart as a pinstripe suit is though, don't treat it too preciously. Mix things up with boldly color socks, or a chambray spread-collar dress shirt.

Salvatore Ferragamo

Michael Bastian

Moschino

Blanket Statement

The source for these bold horizontal stripes are point blankets that date back to the late 1800s fur trade, but there's nothing old about the graphic punch they provide on standard outerwear silhouettes this season.

**John Bartlett **

Rag & Bone

Locked and Loden

For the uninitiated, loden is a grayish shade of green. Think of that just-right hue found on surplus army gear. For every guy, it's the new neutral you need. The color pairs up with all your fall essentials, from gray flannel and tweeds to denim and even saturated primary colors. We saw the shade mostly on pieces that reference its origins, that is, military-inspired field coats, utility jackets, and cargo pants, but it's just as likely seen as a new hue for suits and ties. Treat the color the way you would khaki, meaning just about everything you own already goes with it.

Gant Rugger

Missoni

**Todd Snyder **

Re-Corded

Corduroy, the hearty winter fabric, is back and better than ever, with new versions, wales of every width (the textured lines that make it corduroy) and slimmer fits. And fit is key when it comes to a sturdier cloth like this. Make sure yours slides on like a glove to avoid looking like you're wearing someone else's jacket. Couple traditional tans and browns with those aforementioned indigo shirts for a pairing that pops. It's old-world durability mid with modern touches, that's all very of the moment.

Michael Bastian

Shipley & Halmos

Chelsea Swagger

The codes of Brit style are everywhere this season, and few things are more quintessentially British than the streamlined Chelsea boot. A mod staple, made famous by Swinging Sixties London icons like footballer George Best, they go as well with a beaten-up pair of jeans as they do with a suit. No matter how you wear them, the style blends the urbanity of a good dress shoe with the all-weather protection of a good leather boot.

DSquared

Hermès

Simon Spurr

The New Toggle Coat

The classic duffel coat gets a facelift for fall, as brands are tweaking traditional toggle-front closures with nontraditional hardware, like industrial hooks at Number: Lab or Burberry Prorsum's leather D-rings, giving the standby style some character without making you look like one.

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Number:Lab

Riviera Club

105/153

106/153

Dot Knots

Last seen in the flamboyant '80s, and probably paired with a size-too-large pinstripe suit, polka dot ties are back, modernized with slimmer cuts. The dots look best when there's some heft to them, without venturing into party clown territory, and pin dots need not apply. They're best paired with a simple solid dress shirt.

Barbour Shop

The classic wad-cotton Barbour jacket isn't news to anyone who follows menswear or owns a motorcycle, but what is noteworthy this season is that designers have taken the icon, slimmed it down, and made it more colorful than ever before. The styles lend a distinct motocross vibe to any look, increasing your badass quotient whether you're en route to the grocery store or the racetrack.

Louis Vuitton

Missoni

Simon Spurr

Nordic Track

These geometric woven pattern sweaters are kindred spirits to the throwback graphic ones we showed last fall; however, this lot dials down the scale in favor of a repeating, all-over pattern ecuted in multiple colors. They're a strong layering piece, peeking out of a sport jacket but also capable of holding their own over some worn-in jeans and a pair of desert boots.

Missoni

Ermenegildo Zegna

Rubber the Right Way

Every guy seems to be turning into a sneakerhead these days, with the difference between now and a few years ago being that big designers are firmly on board, offering styles that straddle the line between sporty and slick. These white-soled ones incorporate classic design elements from iconic kicks, but are elegant enough to wear with any suit. The white soles give the shoes some visual heft that anchor any look, and the best part is there are options available at every price point.

Moncler Gamme Bleu

Rick Owens

Rick Owens

Fur Sure

When the weather gets truly rough this winter, there's nothing like an Antarctic-approved parka to keep you warm, preferably topped with a big, fur-trimmed hood. Your ears will thank you, and with so many technical materials used in the body, it's nice to have a luxury touch in such an adventure-inspired piece.

**Todd Snyder **

Viktor & Rolf

Plaid Wrap

A plaid scarf is one of those items that can read a little too schoolboy or a bit too old man, depending on the colorways woven together, but this season we spotted options that were smartly in between the two, infusing the familiar patterns with shots of saturated color and making it a must-have.

DSquared

Moncler Gamme Bleu

Wine-O's

Maroon, burgundy, wine—call it what you will, but it can't be denied that the collective minds in menswear were all having a merlot moment this season. The rich color popped up on every runway and in the trade show booths, on everything from five-pocket pants to knit beanies. What really stands out for us, though, is the series of refined evening suits we saw, rendered in classic wool or lu velvet, that are a welcome, autumnal counterpoint to the traditional sea of black.Â

Hermès

Michael Bastian

Puff Piece

The puffer vest makes an appearance every season on the runways and trade shows, but what separates these from the rest is the front and back yoke detailing. Rendered in corduroy, leather, or even wool, the seemingly simple design element amps up a standard cold-weather piece and provides a cool dose of contrast and color against the nylon body, while also conjuring up images of Redford in Downhill Racer and Jean-Claude Killy. It's old-school après ski style without breaking a sweat.

Gant Rugger

Michael Bastian

Rocky Mountain Featherbed

148/153

149/153

Ring Around the Collar

A shawl-collared evening jacket has been circling around, pun intended, for a few seasons, but is finally hitting the masses. It's for good reason, too, as younger guys are discovering the rakish yet regally formal design that was once the go-to for aristocracy and old Hollywood's elite. What's so great is not much has changed about the silhouette, aside from some designers playing with lapel width, really solidifying how timeless the collar is.Â

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